Safety ski binding



NOV. 6, 1951 M. H. CUBBERLEY SAFETY SKI BINDING 2 SHEETS-'SHEET 1 FiledJan. l5, 1949 Nov. 6, 1951 Ml H. CUBBERLEY SAFETY SKI BINDING 2SHEETS-SHEET Filed Jan. 13, 1949 "Patented Nov. 6, 1951 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE 2,573,955 SAFETY sx1 BINDING Mitchell H. Cubberley,Belleville, N. J. Application January 13, 1949, Serial No. 70,739 v16claims. (ox. 28o-11.35)

This invention relates to an improved constructionof safety ski bindingor attachment harness. Y

The invention has for an object to provide a novel ski binding which issubject to quick and easy manipulation whereby to manually attach anddetach a ski to the users ski boot, and, which under certain conditions,is self-releasing for freeing the boot from the ski.

The invention has for another object to yprovide a novel ski bindingwhereby the toe and heel of a ski boot are separately gripped and heldattached to a ski by manipulatable front and rear spring-loaded clampingdevices which are adapted to independently exert regulatablepredetermined hold down pressure upon the boot in directionsubstantially perpendicular to the plane of the ski, whereby to normallybind the ski to the boot; said clamping devices (as a safety factor)being so constructed as to be independently yieldable to force tendingto lift the boot toe or heel, as the case may be, away from the ski, ifthe lifting force exceeds the normal spring induced hold down pressure,so that, in either case, the boot is automatically vreleased. from theski, thus reducing to a minimum risk of injury to the ankle or leg ofthe user.

The invention has for a further object to provide a novel ski bindingwhich Will exchangeably t both right and left ski boots, thus permittinginterchanging of skis from one foot to the other so that the edges ofthe skis may be causedto wear evenly; it being known that the insideedges of skis are subject to greater wear in use than are outside edgesthereof.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularlyenumerated, will be understood from the following detailed descriptionof the same.

Illustrative embodiments ofthis invention are shown in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational View of a ski equipped with thenovel ski binding of this invention, the clamping devices of which arerespectively shown in their normal gripping relation to the toe and heelof a ski boot, whereby to operatively attach the ski to said boot; Fig.2 is a plan View of the ski and ski binding of Fig. 1, the toe and heelportions of the engaged ski boot being shown by broken lines; Fig. 3 isa longitudinal vertical section, taken on line 3-3 in Fig. 2, but drawnon an enlarged scale; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section similarto `that of Fig. 3, but showing the clamping device in releasedcondition; Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section, taken on line 5-5 inFig. 3; and Fig. 6 is another transverse vertical section, taken on line6-6 in Fig. 3.

Figs. 7 and 8 are fragmentary side elevational views respectivelyshowing the clamping devices of the ski binding as operative to grip skiboot toe and heel portions specially designed for cooperation therewith.

Similar characters of reference are employed in the hereinabovedescribed views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, the reference character I 0 indicates thebody of a ski, and the reference characters II and I2 respectivelyindicate toe and heel portions of a ski boot to which the ski is to beoperatively attached.

In order to adapt the ordinary or standard ski boot for cooperation withthe novel toe and heel clamping devices of the ski binding of thisinvention, the sole of the ski boot is equipped with a speciallydesigned toe plate I3, and the heel of the ski boot with a similarspecially designed heel plate I4.

The toe` plate I3 comprises a at metallic body which is suitablyaixed tothe bottom of the sole of the ski boot, as by screws I5, so that itsforward portion projects somewhat beyond the eX- tremity of the toeportion I I of the ski boot sole. Said forward end of the toe plate I3terminates in an upstanding flange or abutment I6, vwhich is preferablyof a height somewhat in excess of the thickness of the ski boot sole.Integral with and extending rearwardly from the midportion of the angeor abutment I6 is a keeper tongue or lug I'I of substantially reducedwidth. This keeper lug I'I is downwardly bent or depressed to overlapand strongly grip the top marginal part of the toe portion II of the skiboot sole, and thus strongly reenforce the attachment of the toe plateVI3 to the ski boot against loosening or separation from the latterunder lifting stresses, and especially so that said stresses need not besolely borne by the relatively short attachment screws I5 by which thetoe plate I3 is aixed to the ski boot sole. The outlying top edges I8 ofthe flange or abutment I6, which extend from opposite sides of saidkeeper tongue or lug I'I, are adapted to be engaged by the toe clampingdevice of the ski binding, as will be more fully hereinafter explained.I

The h-eel plate lli also compris-es a flat metallic body which issuitably affixed to the bottom of the heel of the ski boot, as byrelatively long screws I9, so that its rearward portion projectssomewhat beyond the rear end of the boot heel.

Said rearward end of the heel plate i4 terminates in an upstandingflange or abutment 2t of suitable height, the outlying top edges 2i ofwhich are adapted to be engaged by the heel clamping device of the skibinding, as will likewise be more fully hereinafter explained. The heelplate flange or abutment 2Q is not provided with a keeper tongue or lug,corresponding to the keeper lug or tongue il of the toe plate, as suchis not necessary since heel lifting stresses are well adapted to beborne by the relatively long attachment screws I9 by which the heelplate is affixed to the ski boot heel. Y

Preferably the top of the ski it is provided with suitably shaped andlocated metallic support pads 22 to bear the toe plate I3 and heel platel of` the boot, and thus prevent said' 'plates from abrading the body ofthe ski. Additionally support pads also raise the boot above the topsurface of the ski body, and Vthus minimize the tendency of snow to lumpup or accumulate about the boot and between the same and the ski.

The front and rear clamping devices of the ski binding are alike instructure and mode of operation. Each said clamp device comprises acarrier frame formed by a bottom plate 23 having at its opposite sides,adjacent to its inner end, transversely aligned, upstanding bearing ears24. The inner end of the frame bottom plate 23 is provided with anupstanding stop member 525 of reduced width. The outer end of the bottomplate 23 is provided with an opstanding perforate thrust bearing member2. Extending between and supported by the Vbearing ears 24 is atransverse pivot pin or shaft 2i. Fulcrumed on said pivot pin or shaft27 is a clamp plate 28 which is provided at its opposite sides withdependent perforate side nanges 2S through which the pivot 'pin or shaft2l extends so as to provide a fulcrum about which the clamp plate mayturn. The medial forward marginal portion of the clamp plate 28 is cutback as at 3@ to form forwardly projecting clamp tongues 3i at therespective sides of said clampplate. These clamp tongues are bordered attheir outer sides by the forward portions of said dependent side flanges29. Said clamp tongues are adapted to straddle both the stop member 25of the carrier frame and the keeper tongue or lug il of the toe plateI3. Integral with the clamp plate 2d, and extending upwardly andrearwardly from said out back forward marginal portion 3o thereof, is alever member 32 by means of which the clamp plate may be manuallymanipulated. Integral Vwith the medial rearward marginal portion of theclamp plate 28 is a pair of laterally spaced knuckle members 33.Pivotally joined to the rear end of `said clamp plate by a cross-pinSli, which is carried by said knuckle members 33, is the forward end ofa rearwardly extending thrust rod 35. The rearward end portion of saidthrust rod 35 extends slidably through the perfcrate thrust bearingmember 25 of the carrier frame, being thus fulcrumed by the lattersubstantially in the horizontal plane of the pivot pin or shaft 2'!about which the clamp plate 23 turns. The

vforward Yportion of the thrust rod 35 is provided with screw-threads36, and threaded thereon is an adjustable thrust nut 3l. Mounted on andaround the thrust rod 35, intermediate the thrust nut 37 and the thrustbearing member 25 of the carrier frame, is a compression spring 38.

To attach a ski to the users boot, the latter is applied to the skibetween the toe and heel clamping devices. To permit this, the clampingdevices are first opened to released positions (such e. g. as shown inFig. 4) `by swinging outward their lever members 32, thus upswinging theclamp plates 28 to raise the clamp tongues Si out ofthe way, so that theboot with its toe and heel plates may be passed down between theclamping devices and footed upon the ski. Such 35 come to rest againststop posts B with which the bottom plates 23 of the `carrier frames areprovided. Under these circumstances, the thrust of the compressionsprings upon the thrust nuts 3l is transmitted through the thrust rodsitt' to the downswung outer ends of the clamp plates 28, whereby thelatter and their clamp tongues 3i are held in the aforesaid upswungreleased positions.

The boot being in position upon the ski, the lever members 32 of theclamping devices are swung inwardly toward the boot, thus swinging downthe clamp plates 23 so as to carry their clamp tongues 3i respectivelydown upon the top edges i8 of the toe plate flange or abutment iii andupon the top edges 2l of the heel plate flange or abutment 26. Suchdownswinging of the clamp plates 28 causes the thrust rods 35 to beupswung across the previously mcntioned deadY center planes, whereby thecompression springs 38 exert strong thrust through the thrust nuts 37and thrust rods 35 upon the upswung' outer ends of the clamp plates 23,whereby the: latter and their clamp tongues 3i are downwardly urged soas to effect strong gripping pres-V sure upon the iianges or abutmentsle and 2B of the respective toe and heel plates. It will benoted thatthe gripping pressure thus exerted by the clamping devices is indirection substantially perpendicular to the plane of the ski, and indirect opposition to stresses tending to lift either the toe or the heelof the boot away from its operative footing upon the ski.

Since, when the clamping devices are operative, the side flanges 29 ofthe clamp plates 28 lappingly abut the opposite vertical edges of theflanges or abutments I6 and 20 of the toe and heel plates, sidewisemovements or shifting of the boot relative to the ski are prevented, andconsequently twisting movements of the foot and boot assure propersteering control of the ski.

It will be understood that the clamping devices operate independently,and that the gripping pressure respectively exercised thereby the toeand heel of the boot may be independently regulated, especially as toamount of release force to which theyk will respectively respond. Suchregulations may be independently made by manipulating the thrust nuts3lV to predetermine the respective loads exerted by the compressionsprings 38. This is of great advantage, since the heel clamping pressureshould be greater and require higher safety release force than isrequired at the toe of the boot, so as to better resist the greater heellifting force which is normally due to stresses resulting from forwardleaning of the body of the skier relative to the plane of the ski whenskiing. The adjustability and regulation of clamping pressures is alsoof advantage since such pressures may be readily accommodated to therequirements of individual skiers; e. g. a large manwould require to uses. greater gripping pressure than would a small man or a woman. Y

It will be obvious, in the event of a fall or rother occurrence whichinduces a vforce tending to separate either the toe or heel of the bootfrom the ski, and which is in excess of the spring loaded grippingforce, that either the toe or the heel clamping device, as the case maybe. will snap open, and thus release the boot from the ski. If oneclamping device snaps open, the boot will lift away therefrom and willpull away from the other clamping device, even if the latter remainsclosed.

The heel clamping device holds the heel of the boot firmly down upon theski so long as vthe force of the gripping pressure thereof (which actsperpendicularly to the plane of the ski) is not exceeded by a counterrelease force. This makes for improved performance and control indownhill skiing, and is a substantial improvement over bindings of theheel cable type which allows the heel to lift relative to the ski, sincethe holding force of the heel cable is not exercised perpendicularly tothe plane of the ski, and since the component of such force which doesact perpendicularly is relatively small.

It will be noted that forward and backward movements or shifts of theboot relative to the ski are prevented by the stop members 25 of therespective clamping devices which are respectively opposed to theupstanding flanges or abutments I6 and 20 of the toe and heel plates i3and I4.

In order to permit relative adjustment ofthe toe and heel clampingdevices with respect tol their longitudinally spaced apart relation,whereby to accommodate their positions for cooperation with ski boots ofvarying size or length, the carrier frames of the clamping devices canbe mounted on the ski subject to longitudinal shifting adjustment towardand 4from one another. One means to this end comprises the provision ofelongated slots t!) in the bottom plate 23 of the carrier frames,through which slots are passed fastening screws di by which the carrierframes are aiiixed to the ski body It. It will be obvious that byloosening said fastening screws 4I, the carrier frames can belongitudinally shifted, and, when thus adjusted in desired relativedisposition, can again be rrnly secured to the ski body by tighteninghome said fastening screws 4I The toe and heel clamping devices of thenovel ski binding of this invention are of such construction and designthat they will readily cooperate and engage with either a left or rightski boot. As a consequence of this, a pair of skis equipped with the skibindings of this invention can be interchangeably applied to and worn oneither the left or the right foot of the skier. Such interchangeabilityis of real advantage since it allows the skis to be exchanged from onefoot to the other from time to time, whereby to assure even wearing ofthe ski edges; it being known that inside edges of skis wear faster thando the outside edges thereof.

The toe and heel plates I3 and I4 are provided in order to adapt thestandard designs of ski boots now in common use for cooperation with theclamping devices of the ski binding of this invention, but it will -berealized that it might well be desirable to have the clamping devicesoperate directly upon the toe sole and the heel portions of a ski boot.It is therefore contemplated that it may well prove to be economical andadvantageous to manufacture ski boots with `specially shaped toe andheel portions adapted to be respectively engaged directly by therespective toe and heel clamping devices of the binding. An illustrativesuggestion to this end is shown in Figs. 7 and 8, wherein (in Fig. '7)the toe sole of a ski boot is provided with a suitably shaped extension42 which is adapted to be directly engaged by the toe clamping device,and wherein (in Fig. 8) the heel of the ski boot is provided with asuitably shaped extension 43 which is adapted to be directly engaged bythe heel clamping device.

It will be understood that changes could be made in the safety skibinding of this invention without departing from the scope of theinvention as defined by the following claims. It is,

therefore, intended thatthe matter shown in the accompanying drawingsand described in the foregoing specification shall be considered asillustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A ski binding comprising longitudinally spaced clamping devicesadapted to engage a ski boot respectively attoe and heel portionsthereof, each clamping device comprising a carrier frame mounted on theski, a transverse pivotal shaft supported by the frame adjacent itsinner end, a clamp plate pivoted on said shaft, said clamp plate, in itsdownswung boot engaging position, being adapted to exert grippingpressure substantially perpendicular to the plane of the ski, springactuated thrust means operative to impart gripping pressure to the clampplate comprising a thrust rod supported at its rearward end portion bythe outer end of said frame with its forward end portion pivotallyconnected with said clamp plate, and a compression spring purchasedagainst the outer end of said frame for actuating said thrust rod,

2. A ski binding as defined in claim 1 wherein the carrier frames areprovided at their inner ends with upstanding stop members for oppositionto the ski boot, whereby to prevent longitudinal shifting displacementthereof relative to the ski.

3. A ski binding comprising longitudinally .spaced clamping devicesadapted to engage a ski Acomprising a thrust rod supported at itsrearward end portion by the outer end of said frame with its forward endportion pivotally connected with said clamp plate, said thrust rodhaving a screw-threaded section, a thrust nut adjustably mounted on saidsection, and a compression spring mounted on said thrust rod betweensaid lthrust, nut and the outer end of said frame.

4. A ski binding comprising longitudinally spaced clamping devicesadapted to engage a ski boot respectively at toe and heel portionsthereof, each clamping device comprising a carrier frame, means forsecuring said carrier frame in longitudinally adjusted position on theski, a transverse pivotal shaft supported by said frame on said shaft,said clamp plate, in its downswung crevaison boot;- enga-ging position,beingadapted to exert gripping pressure substantiall-y perpendicular tothe plane of the ski, spring actuated thrust means operative to impartgripping pressure to the clamp plate comprising a thrust rod supportedat' its rearward end portion by the outer end of said. frame with itsforward end portion pivotally connected withY said clamp plate, saidthrust rod having a screw-threaded section, a thrust nut adjustablymounted on said section, and a compression spring mounted on said thrustrod between said thrust nut and the outer end of said frame.

5. A ski binding comprising longitudinally spaced clamping devicesadapted to engage a ski boot respectively at toe and heel portionsthereof, eachclarn-ping device comprising a carrier frame mounted on theski, a transverse pivotal shaft supported by the frame adjacent itsinner end, a clamp plate pivoted on said shaft, said clamp plate havingdependent side iianges, said clamp plate, in its downswung boot engagingposition, being adapted to exert gripping pressure substantiallyperpendicular to the plane of the ski with its side flanges holding theengaged boot against lateral displacement relative to the ski, springactuated thrust means operative to impart gripping pressure to thecla-mp plate comprising a thrust rod supported at its rearward endportion by the outer end of said frame with its, tor-ward end portionpivotally connected with said clamp plate, and a compression springpurchased against the outer end of said frame for actuating said thrustrod.

6. A ski binding comprising longitudinally stantie-ily perpendicular tothe plane of the ski with its side flanges holding the engaged bootagainst lateral displacement relative to the ski, spring actuated thrustmeans operative to impart gripping pressure to the clamp platecomprising a thrust rod supported at its rearward end portion by theouter end of said frame with its forward end portion pivotally connectedwith said ciainp plate, said thrust rod having a screw threaded section,a thrust nut adjustably mounted on said section, and a compressionspring mounted on said thrust rod between said thrust nut and the outerend of said frame.

A ski binding as defined in claim S'Wherein the carrier frames areprovided at their inner ends with upstanding stop members foroppositionY to the ski boot, whereby to prevent longi- Y tudinalshifting displacement thereof relative to the ski.

8. A'ski binding as defined in claim 6 including a toe plate and a heelplate afxed to the bottom of the ski boot, each said plate having anupstanding abutment member exteriorly of the boot which is adapted to beengaged by an adjacent clamp plate and embraced by the side angesthereof.

S. A ski binding as dened in claim 6 including a toe plate and a heelplate afxed to the adjacent clamp plate and embraced bythe side angesthereof, and the abutment,l member of said; toe plate having an angularkeeper tongue to engagey over the toe end of the ski boot sole.

10. A ski binding comprising longitudinally spaced clamping devicesadapted to engage, a ski boot respectively at toe and heel portionsthereof, each clamping device comprising a carrier frame. mounted on.the ski, a transverse pivotal shaft supported by the frame adjacent itsinner end, a clamp. plate pivoted on said shaft, said clamp plate havinga lever member for manipulating the same, said clamp plate, in itsdownswung boot engaging position, being adapted to exert grippingpressure substantially perpendicular to theA plane of the ski, springactuated thrust means operative to impart gripping pressure to the clampplate comprising a thrust rod pivotally andv slidably supported at itsrearward end portion by the outer end of said frame in a horizontalplane which intersects that of the axis of the clamp plate pivotingshaft, means for pivotally coupling the forward end of said thrust rodwith the rearward end of said clamp plate, said thrust rod having ascrew-threaded section, a thrust nut adjustably mounted on said section,and a compression spring mounted on said thrust rod between said thrustnut and the outer end of said frame.

l1. A ski binding comprising longitudinally spaced clamping devicesadapted to engage a ski boot respectively at toe and heel portionsthereof, each clamping device comprising a carrier frame mounted on theski, a transverse pivotal shaft supported by the frame adjacent itsinner end, a clamp plate pivoted on said shaft, said clamp plate havinga lever member for manipulating the same, said clamp plate havingdependent side iianges, said clamp plate, in its downswung boot engagingposition, being adapted to exert gripping pressure substantiallyperpendicular to the plane of the ski with its side flanges holding theengaged boot against lateral displacement relative to the ski, springactuated thrustY means operative to impart gripping pressure to theclamp plate comprising a thrust rod supported at its rearward endportion by the outer end of said frame in a horizontal plane whichintersects that of the axis of the clamp plate pivoting shaft, means forpivotaily coupling the forward end oi said thrust rod with the rearwardend of said clamp plate, said thrust rod having a screw-threadedsection, a thrust nut adjustably mounted on said section, and acompression spring mounted on said thrust rod between said thrust nutand the outer end of said frame, said carrier frames having upstandingstop members at their inner ends for opposition to the ski boot, wherebyto prevent longitudinally shifting displacement thereof relative to theski. Y

l2. A ski binding as dened in claim 11 including means for securing thecarrier frames in longitudinally adjusted positions on the ski.

13. A ski binding as dened in claim ll including a toe plate and a heelplate aihxed to the bottom of the ski boot, each said plate having anupstanding abutment member exteriorly of the boot which is adapted to beengaged by an adjacent clamp plate and embraced by the side flangesthereof.

14. A ski binding as dened in claim 11 including a toe plate and a heelplate aflixed to the bottom of the ski boot, each said plate having anopstanding abutment member exteriorly of 9 the boot which is adapted tobe engaged by an adjacent clamp plate and embraced by the side flangesthereof, and the abutment member of said toe plate having an angularkeeper tongue to engage over the toe end of the ski boot sole.

15. In a ski binding, a clamping device to engage a ski boot, saiddevice comprising a carrier4 frame mounted on the ski, a transversepivotal shaft supported by the frame adjacent its inner end, a clampplate pivoted on said shaft, said clamp plate, in its downswung bootengaging position, being adapted to exert gripping pressuresubstantially perpendicular to the plane of the ski, a spring actuatedthrust means operative to impart gripping pressure to the clamp platecomprising a thrust rod supported at its rearward end portion by theouter end of said frame with its forward end portion pivotally connectedwith said clamp plate, said thrust rod having a screw-threaded section,a thrust nut adjustably mounted on said section, and a compressionspring mounted on said thrust rod between said thrust nut and the outerend of said frame.

16. In a ski binding, a clamping device to engage a ski boot, saiddevice comprising a carrier frame mounted on the ski, a transversepivotal shaft supported by the frame adjacent its inner end, a clampplate pivoted on said shaft, said 10 clamp plate, in its downswung bootengaging position, being adapted to exert gripping pressuresubstantially perpendicular to the plane of the ski, spring actuatedthrust means operative to impart gripping pressure to the clamp platecomprising a thrust rod slidably supported at its rearward end portionby the outer end of the frame With its forward end portion pivotallyconnected with said clamp plate, and a compression spring purchasedagainst the outer end of said frame for actuating said thrust rod.

MITCHELL H. CUBBERLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,372,752 Holmes Mar. 29, 19212,373,128 McIlVane Apr. 10, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date38,014 Norway Oct. 1, 1923 57,945 Norway May 3, 1937 348,634 GreatBritain May 15, 1931 845,670 France May 22, 1939

